Archives For ACCA accountant

This will not be your usual mind blowing piece on leadership because quite frankly I believe it means something different for everybody. That’s the only way you can back up the statement that on a well-known UK web site that sells books you get over 90.000 books on leadership when you undertake a search. That’s just crazy!

I try to live my life by the stanza: Do good and be good. But I don’t think that will be enough to satisfy a future ACCA on how live towards this concept.

Being a leader is one that should aspire to be the shining example of what ever organisation he belongs to (I will keep this business oriented), the practical steps one can take into demonstrating this are:

Managing yourself

Work hard

Set the standard

Be proactive, not reactive

Value your time

Be consistent

Set realistic targets for yourself

Have a game plan

Learn from your mistakes

Prioritize

Have a plan B and C

Recognise when your stressed

Manage your health

See the bigger picture

Be accountable

Be decisive

Be assertive

Be flexible

Don’t bad mouth your team or your boss

In doubt ask questions

Add value to the company

And the second part in my opinion to completing this leadership of oneself puzzle is:

Managing your team

Know what a team is and how it works

Set realistic targets

Hold effective meetings

Make your team BETTER than you

Let them make mistakes

Accept their limitations

Encourage people

Be very, very good at finding the right people

Take the rap

Give credit and praise when deserved

Get the best resources for your team

Inspire Loyalty

Listen to ideas from others

Don’t always have the last word

Use positive reinforcement motivation

Train them to bring you solutions and not problems

The list can go on and on and on, I believe in all the above, I try to adopt the above, am I a leader, I am not sure, I do my best for the company, I support my team day in day out. I strive to mentor them and coach them in the best of my ability with the thought that when they reach my age, I want them to be BETTER THAN ME. I strive for them to bring me a ready solution for each challenge they face in their daily routine and of course it’s not always hunky dory, I can also be extremely assertive and tell them in a non-threatening and a non-abusive manner on what I want and what I believe they have done wrong.

This topic is very opinionated, but in all your daily dealings at work if you use your god given gifts of having 2 ears, which means listen with one and then listen again with the other and then respond in a manner that you would like to be treated and you have the above lists in the back of your mind there is no way you can NOT go forward.

Recently I have moved into a new role in my organisation, which is a promotion from my previous position. A couple of things were responsible for my career progression, but the top reason was that I am studying for the ACCA Qualification.

That is, indirectly – in terms of employers respecting the qualification – and directly – through the knowledge gained studying the ACCA syllabus and exams. Studying ACCA has provided the theoretical and practical knowledge required to rise to the challenge of my new role.

The changes to my responsibilities in the new role meant that I needed a principal level of experience and knowledge. Studying ACCA, particularly the fact that I took relevant exam papers such as F8 and F9, has equipped me with an understanding of what is required in my new role – and how to deliver on this requirement.

My employer has more faith in my skills because of the hard work, knowledge and application required to pass the exams in the ACCA Qualification. Studying ACCA made the transition into my new role easier – and it ran more smoothly as a result.

What I am sure of is the fact that the day I become an ACCA member, my opportunities will become endless. I believe this status puts you in high demand with employers (as well as on a seven-digit salary), especially in my part of the world – where quality and assurance are in high demand.